Liverpool John Lennon Airport is facing 'very high' demand for flights by LFC fans wanting to attend the Champions League Final and bosses intend to add 20 flights to Paris as a result.
Liverpool booked their place in the final, which will take place at the Stade de France on Saturday, May 28, after beating Spanish side Villarreal 5-2 on aggregate in the semi-final. Victory would see the club claim a seventh European Cup and could potentially see Jurgen Klopp's side complete an unprecedented quadruple.
Fans wishing to attend the Reds' third Champions League final in five years have a number of options for travelling to the French capital. However, Liverpool MPs and City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram have urged fans not to travel with P&O Ferries, who have been criticised heavily since March, when the company suddenly and without warning sacked 800 of its staff, replacing them with badly paid agency workers.
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Many fans have chosen to fly to Paris from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, hence the 20 additional flights. A spokesperson for Liverpool John Lennon Airport told the ECHO : "Demand for flights by Liverpool fans wanting to reach the Champions League Final is as ever very high and at present we expect to see at least an additional 20 flights operating from Liverpool taking fans to Paris, operating on Friday 27th and Saturday 28 th May."
Airlines and specialist charter operators are organising these flights and currently these include:
- Ryanair, who currently have 8 departures on sale for May 27 and 28
- easyJet, who will operate flights to Paris on May 27 and 28
- Lufthansa - via Frankfurt to Paris - on May 27
- World Choice Sports
- Sport Options
Demand for flights has led to significant price rises. Currently, Ryanair's website shows that a return, comprising an outbound flight from Liverpool at 7am on May 27 and a return from Paris at 11.05am on May 29, would cost £457.
As a point of comparison, a single from Liverpool to Paris with Ryanair on June 7 would cost just £9.99. The cheapest fare currently available for easyJet's Liverpool to Paris flight leaving at 11.35am on May 28 is £322.99, while a return leaving Paris on May 29 with easyJet would cost £621.29.
Day returns with World Choice Sports are being advertised with prices between £649 and £799, while Sport Options' two night option costs £619, but travellers will need to book their own accommodation.
At the time of writing, Lufthansa's website lists Wednesday, May 25 as the closest day to the game for a departing flight from Liverpool to Paris, via Frankfurt. The cheapest economy ticket on offer is currently £379.08.
